TX Observer: “After years studying errors in death penalty cases, Columbia University law professor James Liebman wondered whether he could prove someone had been executed for a crime they didn’t commit. To test the theory, Liebman turned to Texas, the epicenter of the modern death penalty. In 2004, he and a team of students stumbled…
“When Jesse Helms Got Religion on Israel”
New Day for NC: “Conservative evangelical Christians in America haven’t always been all-out supporters of Israel. They once were downright hostile. That changed in 1984 when North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms ran for reelection against Governor Jim Hunt. Helms’s flip-flop on Israel had nothing to do with religion. It was about campaign contributions. During his…
“The Saga of Bonnie and Jack: A walk back in history with Orval Faubus, his family and JFK”
AR Times: “Ernest Dumas looks back to 1963. The nation was roiling from the civil rights movement and an Arkansas governor, Orval Faubus, was nurturing his political power with defense of segregation. Into the story step John F. Kennedy, not long before his assassination; Orval Faubus’ sister, a JFK admirer, and Faubus’ father Sam, a…
ACLU Signals Lawsuits Coming to Challenge Gov Abbott’s TX Border Wall
Off the Kuff: “From the inbox: The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas sent letters today to 34 counties informing top officials that implementing Gov. Greg Abbott’s unlawful plan to engage in immigration enforcement would violate the U.S. Constitution. The letters, sent to the counties targeted by Abbott, advise against local law enforcement participation in…
Precinct Analysis of State House Districts in TX
Off the Kuff: “I return once again to doing cycle-over-cycle comparisons in vote turnout, in this case for State House districts. There are a lot of them, and I’m not going to do them all but I am going to do enough of them that I will split this into two parts. Part One, this…
“Mississippi business leaders discuss how new flag impacts state economy”
North State Journal: “A prominent Mississippi business leader said Wednesday the decision to change the state’s flag has removed a “significant impediment” to economic development in Mississippi. Mississippi lawmakers voted last year to retire a Confederate-themed flag state as part of the national reckoning over protests against law enforcement. “This, I think, removes a significant…
“UT/Trib: More polls that say permitless carry is not popular [in TX]”
Off the Kuff: “The UT/Texas Tribune polling machine did a whole bunch of issue polls following the end of the legislative session. That’s a long article that gives the highlights on each question – they covered a wide range of topics, some of which the respondents knew more about than others – and I will focus on…
“Quinnipiac: Permitless carry and total abortion bans are not popular in Texas”
Off the Kuff: “One week after Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law allowing Texans to carry unlicensed handguns, voters say 74 – 24 percent that they oppose allowing anyone 21 years of age or older to carry handguns without a license or training, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of Texas…
“Former [AL] Congressman Sonny Callahan dies at 88”
AL Political Reporter: ““It is with genuine sadness that I share the passing of longtime Congressman H.L. ‘Sonny’ Callahan of Mobile,” Ivey said in a statement. “Congressman Callahan passed away peacefully in his sleep last night. Without question, Sonny’s service to Alabama and to America was unrivaled. He was one of South Alabama’s most beloved…
“How should Arkansas schools spend billions in federal relief money? A teacher of the year has ideas.”
The AR Times: “My friends and I have been reimaging education and solving all of the world’s problems for decades. No, really. In 1999, my husband LeRon and I invited about three dozen or so people from our various circles to break bread in our “new-to-us” home as a housewarming gift to ourselves. We continued…